Crustal structure and tectonic evolution of Enderby Land, East Antarctica, as revealed by deep seismic surveys

• Subsurface structures of metamorphic terrains in Enderby Land are reviewed.
• Lithosphereic velocity and reflections of Lützow-Holm Complex was revealed.
• A large graben structure is underling beneath the Amery Ice shelves.
• Tectonic evolution of Enderby Land with continuation to inland plateau is discussed.

Subsurface crustal structures of the metamorphic terrains in Enderby Land, East Antarctica, were obtained on the basis of data from deep seismic surveys along with connecting reliable tectonic models. The lithospheric structure of the early-Paleozoic Lützow-Holm Complex (LHC) at the western side of Enderby Land was delineated by inland dipping velocity models and lower crustal reflectivity by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. The seismic profiles across the Prince Charles Mountains (PCM) and Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) by the Soviet Antarctic Expedition demonstrated the graben structure beneath the Amery Ice Shelf. The Lambert graben and the underlying rift structure in the central part of the profile appeared to be associated with the Cretaceous breakup. Tectonic evolution of the wider area in Enderby Land is discussed by combining the coastal structure with that toward the inland plateau of the Gambursev Subglacial Mountains (GSM), with geological aspects concerning the amalgamation and separation of the Gondwana supercontinent.